My guest Blogger for Teacher’s Day is Ms Diana Tyagi,
mother, educationist and super franchise of Jumbo Kids. Read her thoughts on
the importance of ‘Teacher’s Day’.
It is often said " Leave your children well
instructed, rather than riches and wealth, for the hopes of the well instructed
are better than the wealth of the ignorant....."
Knowledge is a powerful acquisition which when shared does not
decrease. It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy and kindle the
light of wisdom through creative expression. Today so many of our teachers
unfortunately lack the foresight to perceive the effect of their interaction on
these young impressionable minds.
Lots has been written about the role of a teacher in a student's
life, but how many teachers are actually committed to the profession? By virtue
of having been in this profession for the last 7 years, and raising my 4
children from pre school level and watching them graduate to Middle school and
High school level I have had the good fortune of interacting with a variety of
teachers and seen the aftermath of that interaction on their very sub
conscience.
Taking a moment back in time to rewind to the era of my
growing up years, and do some self introspection on the lingering mark those
educators left on me, makes me realise that the bottom line was that those
educators put the needs of the student much before all else... Growing up in an
environment that fostered the self development of the individual and aided in
inculcation of morals and values to be upheld over all else, resulted in them
being looked upon as role models in every sense of the term.
A good teacher possesses the ability to deal with tactics,
patterns, techniques and principles of behaviour that ensure to get the best
out of the student and can be adapted whatever be the personality of the
child..
I have through my limited years of experience enlisted 10 GOLDEN
RULES OF AN EDUCATOR that are not intended to be a revelation but are
certainly a reminder. Many of them are based on common sense but it is easy to
lose sight of them when dealing with the different needs of varying
ages....When one thinks of the huge responsibility invested in the hands to of
a teacher ...it can stop you in your tracks and take your breath away as the
things we say and do have a huge influence in their lives...
RULE 1:- SEE THINGS FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE
Children often view the world differently from adults .
Sometimes they try very hard to view it the same way as us but we as adults
don't seem to think about their perspective at all, so it is important to let
them to know that we are viewing things from their perspective.
RULE 2:- TEACH THEM TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES
Not only do students have to make their own decisions but they
have to think for themselves...
The single most basic technique for teaching children to think
is to constantly ask them questions and challenge their ideas. Not aggressively
but to get them debating,arguing,justifying and questioning.Once they can start
doing so instinctively without us having to kick them off with a question you
know you have mastered this rule.
RULE 3:- USE PRAISE WISELY
As teachers, praise should be used as one of the biggest
motivators for their students.
The expression "You can't have too much of a good thing
"...certainly does not apply to praise. Praise should be given in
proportion to the child's achievements. If you over praise them you devalue the
currency. If you tell them they are superbly brilliant when they do something
pretty average then what will you say when they do something really
outstanding? Also if every little thing they achieve is rewarded with copious
praise they will be terrified of failing you...
RULE 4:- COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR STUDENTS
Communicate with them by focusing on the problem and not the
person. A common principle advocated at child behaviour seminars is "Hes
not a naughty boy,he is a good boy who has done a naughty thing"
Though it sounds like a politically correct, psychologically
gone wrong statement,it is an absolutely correct statement.
Once you tell a child he is naughty or selfish or rude
,careless,or anything else.... you label him. They start believing the label
(and why shouldn't they, after all they are trained to believe everything their
teacher says as the gospel truth). Soon they will start living up to the
adjectives used by you to describe them. If you give them a label they will
live up to it. They will automatically feel there is no need to put in any effort
as the teacher thinks I'm useless anyways....Learn to condemn their behaviour
not them.
Positive labels are a different thing entirely....as long as
they are accurate.They encourage a child to behave like their
label----thoughtful,careful,
RULE 5:- THE RIGHT OF EXPRESSION
Children have strong emotions and they need to be able to show
them. When they are angry they have to be allowed to say so. Our job is to
teach them to say so in an acceptable manner and not to conceal their feelings
no matter what...They need to hear us say"I can see exactly why you are
angry but it still is not ok to push your friend in that manner"
A child that is not allowed to express his feelings will not be
able to get rid of them-even as a grown up. Bottling up emotions from childhood
can lead to emotional and even physical problems...Whats more when they grow up
into adults they will never be able to express how they feel ,which can be
hugely damaging in all sorts of relationships,particularly close partnerships.
RULE 6:- FIND OUT WHAT INCENTIVES WORK FOR WHAT CHILDREN
Children can have the same biological parents,grow up in the
same family, go to the same school but be completely different people.
A good teacher's aim is to bring out their individuality not
mould them into something they don't want to be and thereby enabling them to
grow into wonderful, independent, self assured free thinking people that they
are meant to be..
Different students are motivated by different things. Sometimes
emotional incentives work well, eg approval of a teacher, at other times
specific incentives eg being given more responsibility in the class.
It takes a long time to work out what might be the right incentive
but by experimenting on a trial and error basis you can discover it soon
enough.
RULE 7:- EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE RECOGNISED FOR SOMETHING
THEY KNOW THEY ARE GOOD AT
If we want our students to grow up feeling that they can
contribute to the world and hold their head high with self esteem this
rule needs to be implemented at an early age.
A teacher plays an important role in giving them the confidence
to find and discover the things that they are good at. Take time out to find
qualities to admire in them.
Some children are good at lots of things,whereas others at only
one or two that really matter to them.Our job is to keep looking until we find
the thing they can excel at and make sure that they realise it.
It also does not have to be academic or school oriented
like music or art or sports...it could simply be a child with exemplary
memory/retention power or maybe the best organiser of the class,who
meticulously stacks all the books for the teacher in a neat pile.Just make sure
they are good at it and most importantly they know that YOU know they are good
at it.
RULE 8:- THEIR ATTITUDE IS AS IMPORTANT AS THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS
What do we as educators praise our students for ?. Good work in
the exams, neatness in books,finishing all the homework on time,winning in
sports,getting the highest grade in class....
The real answer should be NONE of the above....Of course it is
important to congratulate the student for these achievements but the things
they deserve most praise for, are to do with their attitude and their
behaviour and less for their achievements.The things we praise children
for or reward them for in life tell a lot about what we believe is important in
life. It helps create their values. So if we end up always praising the
best academic prowess, highest marks in the class, winning,success.... then
those are things we tell them matter and the pressure is on them to keep
achieving. However if we praise effort, perseverance, progress, diplomacy,
integrity, honesty that is what they will grow up believing.
RULE 9:- THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A PERFECT STUDENT
Who wants a perfect student? Every child I have met who was
impeccably behaved and never put a foot wrong, strove to please their parents
and teachers, worked hard at school and always handed in their homework on time
is probably the most boring student...
Children are not supposed to be mini grown-ups. They are meant
to have all those imperfections that growing up is intended to eradicate.If you
had them perfect by the age of 10 you might as well send them off to be
merchant bankers.
Childhood is for being a child and privately I always think
children turn out best if not quite all those early imperfections disappear.
Who wants an adult child who never has a mischievous twinkle in his eye...
RULE 10:- TEACH THEM TO FAIL SUCCESSFULLY
Tell them when they fail, that you have given them the
permission to feel bad, and by telling them that you can see how shattered they
must be and that you are not surprised they feel the way they do...Be
sympathetic and understanding...add on a few hugs and kisses.
Once you have allowed them to be miserable for a while they will
be ready to start climbing up out of their swamp of despair and when they
do,remind them you will be there to give them a hand...
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